Your Disney World trip planning is well underway. You’ve chosen a hotel, bought your Disney tickets and picked a perfect pair of Mickey ears to match your outfit. However, multiple family members have food allergies, and you’re wondering whether you can bring food into Disney theme parks.
People with dietary needs, small children or those with a strict budget don’t need to worry because the Disney World outside food policy will make you feel happier than Timon and Pumbaa when they dig for grubs.
Which parks are part of Walt Disney World?
The Walt Disney World Resort includes four theme parks:
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Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Additionally, Disney World includes two water parks:
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Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.
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Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park.
Disney’s food and drink policy is the same across all theme and water parks.
Disney World food and drink policy
Can you bring food into Disney World? The short answer is “yes.” Disney’s policy states that you can bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverages into the parks with some restrictions:
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Glass containers aren’t allowed.
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Food cannot require heating, reheating or refrigeration.
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Food or drink cannot have pungent odors.
If you bring food and drinks into Disney World parks, let a security cast member know at the entrance.
Can you bring drinks into Disney World?
It’s possible to bring outside drinks into the Disney World parks, as long as they don’t contain alcohol and aren’t in glass bottles. However, alcohol is allowed at Disney Resort hotels. You also can bring bottles of wine to restaurants with table service at Disney Springs, but you’ll have to pay a corkage fee.
Tips for bringing food into Disney World
Pack a small cooler
You’re allowed to pack a cooler for your items, but keep in mind that coolers, bags or backpacks can’t be larger than 24 x 15 x 18 inches. Additionally, neither loose nor dry ice is allowed, so we recommend reusable ice packs to keep food and beverages cold.
Avoid glass containers
The only glass containers allowed in Disney theme or water parks are baby food jars. Otherwise, don’t bring glass food storage containers, soda bottles or other bottles.
Bring a reusable water bottle
One-time use and plastic water bottles at theme parks, including Disney World, are expensive. Instead, you can bring a reusable insulated water bottle, such as a Hydro Flask, a Yeti mug or a Stanley cup to keep your water cold. You can refill water at fountains in the parks and you can ask for a free cup of ice at quick-service food locations with a fountain machine.
Pack reusable straws
Plastic straws aren’t allowed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Village and Jambo House) or water parks. If you or your child require a straw for drinking, we recommend avoiding paper straws, which eventually turn into mush, and bringing reusable straws made of stainless steel, silicone or bamboo.
Leave folding chairs at home
Even though outside food is allowed at Disney World parks, folding chairs aren’t, so leave your portable camping chair at home and use one of the outdoor tables or benches.
Consider packing the basics
Lunchtime fare like simple sandwiches (peanut butter and jelly, anyone?), snacks like nuts and raisins, and granola or cereal bars are popular with families who pack food for Disney. You might also bring bags of chips, pretzels or cookies, as well as applesauce or other squeeze pouches. If you bring a small cooler, you could consider items like string cheese or fruits.
Bringing outside food to Disney recapped
Yes, if your little one (or you) needs daily snacks, or your spouse has a gluten allergy, you can bring food and reusable water bottles into Disney World, so long as you follow a few simple rules.
Make sure to bring food that doesn’t need to be warmed up, and remember — no glass bottles and no alcohol. If you’re at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or water parks, skip plastic straws and leave folding chairs behind no matter where you are within the resort.
